Sanderson High School teacher charged with possessing child pornography

A teacher from Sanderson High School was arrested Tuesday appeared in court virtually on Wednesday – charged with second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor after a months-long child pornography investigation.

Warrants indicate Eric Belk, 37, from Knightdale, was charged with 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The noted date of offense was June 15.

Police say in June, Belk downloaded and shared videos of girls as young as age 7 being sexually abused. He's also accused of sharing a video of a boy as young as 10 being abused by an older woman.

The Town of Knightdale says investigators got a tip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children in August, saying someone in the area was downloading and sharing child porn on social media.

A spokesperson from Wake County Public Schools said Belk, who taught science, had been suspended.

The judge told Belk if he's convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to more than 70 years in prison.

In an email to parents, Sanderson Interim Principal Kevin L. Hill said it does not appear the minor involved was a student from Sanderson High School.

Belk was represented by a private attorney, and his next court date was set for November 30.

Family members in the courtroom declined to comment on the charges.

Belk is being held at the Wake County Detention Center on a $500,000 secured bond.